画が竜りょう点てん睛せいを欠かく

expression, godan verb (-ku)

to lack the finishing touch; to be incomplete despite near perfection

Idiomatic expression derived from the Chinese story of a painter who added pupils to a dragon painting and brought it to life. Used when something is almost perfect but misses a crucial final detail.

See also: 画竜点睛 (がりょうてんせい)

• 彼かれの計けい画かくはよく練ねられているが、資し金きん調ちょう達たつの見み通とおしが甘あまく、画が竜りょう点てん睛せいを欠かく。

  His plan is well thought out, but the fundraising outlook is weak, so it lacks the finishing touch.

• このケーキは味あじは完かん璧ぺきだが、飾かざり付つけが地じ味みで画が竜りょう点てん睛せいを欠かいている。

  This cake tastes perfect, but the decoration is plain, so it's missing that final touch.